28-29 January: This weekend in Motor Sport History

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1927: The Hon Mrs Victor Bruce driving an AC Six car (PF6465) borrowed from Selwyn Edge, departed from Monte Carlo on an 8,000 miles (12,875 km) endurance trial through Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Morocco, Spain, and France. There, she drove the car 1,000 miles (1609 km) around the Montlhéry oval circuit near Paris, and then returned to England.‪

1938: Mercedes driver Rudolf Caracciola in a W125 Rekordwagen on the Bundesautobahn 5 between the German cities of Frankfurt and Darmstadt, set a new record of 432 km/h (268 mph). Bernd Rosemeyer, one of the most prominent drivers

Mercedes W125 Rekordwagen

of the 1930s and Caracciola’s rival on the Grands Prix scene, was next. And 268 miles per hour remains, to this day, the record for top speed on a public road – nobody has been tempted to try and break it. Ninety minutes after Caracciola set his record, it was time for his archrival to make an attempt. Not only was Bernd Rosemeyer also a successful racing driver, but he was a successful racing driver for Auto Union.O n his third and final attempt the Auto Union V16 Streamliner veered of the road, probably due to a gust of wind, Rosemeyer was thrown out of the cockpit at high speed and killed instantly at the young age of 29. Rosemeyer had been one of the most exceptional racing drivers in German motor racing history. He had almost won his second ever Grand Prix at the daunting Nürburgring, later in 1935 he did win his first Grand Prix at the Brno Masaryk Circuit in Czechoslovakia. Several victories followed in 1936 and 1937, including the Vanderbilt Cup in the USA.

1949:

Bernd Jean-Pierre Wimille

Bernd Jean-Pierre Wimille (40), the leading driver in the immediate post-war years, was killed when he crashed into a tree while practising for the Argentinian GP. Some said he was blinded by a shaft of sunlight coming between the trees, others that he had swerved to avoid a dog. It was the first time he had driven in a crash helmet. He won the 1947 Swiss and Belgian GPs, and in 1948 the French and Italian, and was the leading driver of the season.

1973: The F1 1973 season began pretty much confirming the tendencies of the previous season with Emerson Fittipaldi and his black and golden JPS-Lotus maintaining the upper-hand on the Tyrrells of Jackie Stewart amnd Francois Cevert There had been a big question mark over the Argentine Grand Prix as opening race of the 1973 Formula 1 season due to the political turbulences the country found itself following the return of General Juan Peron from exile. When the race was finally confirmed for late January not all teams had their cars ready and travel arrangements in place. With Matra having withdrawn from the sport and new teams Shadow, Embassy-Hill and Ensign missing in Buenos Aires, the grid presented itself rather small. Fittipaldi went past Stewart on lap 76 and began his charge upon the race leader. Cevert tried to defend his position with all his talent, but had to surrender the lead on lap 86 to the reigning world champion’s commanding speed, finishing second ahead of Stewart.

2002: Alain Prost’s team became the first major F1 casualty for seven years when it collapsed with debts of US$30 million. Prost blamed the economic downturn following the terrorist attacks in the United States for difficulties in finding a saviour.

2005: The cracks between teams and the establishment were beginning to show as only Ferrari turned up to a meeting called by the FIA president Max Mosley to discuss rule changes. While the stay-away by the other nine was symbolic, it indicated the days of them being told what to do and how to do it were over. The fact yesterday’s meeting went ahead with only one team present will aggravate the divisions already splitting the sport,” noted the Guardian. “It reinforces the view that Ferrari has an uncomfortably close relationship with the governing body.”

Katherine Legge

2007: At 11.11 a.m. British-born Champ Car driver Katherine Legge, driving a Robinson Racing Pontiac-powered Riley DP, made history by completing the one-millionth lap of the 24 Hours of Daytona race since its inception.

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1897: The first of many “Semaines de Nice” automobile races from Marseille to La Turbie, finished. Winner of the Car Class was Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat on a De Dion-Bouton steam break, covering the 240 km in 7 hours 45 minutes 9 seconds (30 kmph). The Motorcycle Class was won by Chesnay on a De Dion-Bouton tricycle in 9 hours 23 minutes 36 seconds (25 kmph).

1957: Stirling Moss teamed with local hero Carlos Menditeguy in a 3.0 litre Maserati to win the Argentine 1000 Kilometers World Sports Car race. The race was a battle between Ferrari and Maserati teams since the Jaguar and Aston Martin teams did not enter the event. The 4.9 liter Ferrari Bolidos of Peter Collins/Luigi Musso and Juan Fangio/Eugenio Castellotti led, but both chewed up their rear axles, forcing retirement.

1978: The Arrows made their F1 1 debut in the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, with the car driven by Riccardo Patrese finishing 9th behind the winning of Carlo Reutemann in his Ferrari. Reutemann set the fastest lap of the race on his way to victory, finishing 49 seconds ahead of Emerson Fittipaldi, driving his own car and Niki Lauda in a Brabham.

A1 Grand Prix, Durban

2006: A1 Grand Prix attracted its biggest crowd to date as over 100,000 people lined the streets of Durban, South Africa for the series’ and the city’s first ever street race. With an electric atmosphere and excitement on the track, the race was voted best event of the 2005/06 calendar at the end of season awards ceremony. The race was won by The Netherlands.

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